Fuyong Mullet

Fuyong Mullet

　　The mullet in Shenzhen mainly comes from the brackish water area where the Xihan Sea meets the western part of the city, but Fuyong mullet is the most famous. Also known as “Xinyu,” mullet do not eat grass but feed exclusively on small shrimp, crabs, and fish. They often live in crab holes, hailantou (rocky coastal areas), and oyster ponds, making them well-suited for polyculture with other aquatic products. Mullet are small and round in shape, weighing no more than half a pound, with only one spine and rich, tender meat that is easy to eat and delicious. Mullet have been extensively farmed in the reclaimed tidal flats of Fuyong and have become a major export aquatic product.

　　　　The mullet in Shenzhen mainly comes from the brackish water area where the Xihan Sea meets the western part of the city, but Fuyong mullet is the most famous. Also known as “Xinyu,” mullet do not eat grass but feed exclusively on small shrimp, crabs, and fish. They often live in crab holes, hailantou (rocky coastal areas), and oyster ponds, making them well-suited for polyculture with other aquatic products. Mullet are small and round in shape, weighing no more than half a pound, with only one spine and rich, tender meat that is easy to eat and delicious. Mullet have been extensively farmed in the reclaimed tidal flats of Fuyong and have become a major export aquatic product.

　　　　In recent years, fish farmers in Guangdong’s Chaoshan region, Shenzhen, Dongguan, and other areas who practice polyculture of the “four major freshwater fishes” and tilapia with mullet in freshwater ponds have mostly achieved good economic returns. The author recommends polyculturing mullet in freshwater ponds—this requires low investment and yields high profits, making it a worthwhile attempt for farmers raising the four major freshwater species and tilapia.

　　　　Mullet (scientific name: Mugil cephalus) are mainly produced along the southeastern coast of China. This migratory fish prefers living in shallow seas, inner bays, or estuarine waters. Typically, at four years of age and weighing 2–3 kilograms, they reach sexual maturity and migrate to shallow offshore areas or around islands to spawn. Fry over 2 centimeters in length migrate to estuaries and inland harbors with low salinity. The fry season runs from January to April, which is the best time for catching and collecting fry for temporary farming. After a period of cultivation, acclimatization, and desalination, they can be released into freshwater ponds, brackish ponds, and other freshwater–brackish water environments. They are highly adaptable, able to live in seawater and, through desalination, also thrive in fully freshwater environments. Their fry, once artificially caught, desalinated, and released into freshwater ponds alongside native fish, do not affect the yield of existing pond fish nor require special farming conditions or techniques. Simply release the fry at the right time, reinforce anti-escape facilities, and manage them as usual.

　　　　Mullet mainly feed on plant-based food, algae mud, plankton in nutrient-rich pond water, and leftover feed from other fish. They can also consume low-nutrient foods such as rice bran, straw bran, wheat bran, and cornmeal. Additionally, mullet help improve pond water quality, acting as “cleaner fish.” Therefore, polyculturing mullet with other fish in freshwater ponds has the advantages of being easy to manage, low-cost, and high-yield.

　　　　Mullet have tender, flavorful meat and are extremely nutritious. The end product is in high demand and is a popular dish in restaurants, eateries, and among urban and rural diners. “Mullion Grilled in Open Charcoal Stove” is especially a famous dish in restaurants, earning wide praise from consumers.

　　　　For mullet polyculture, stock 200–300 fry of about 3 cm in length per mu of pond (with water depth of 1.2–2 meters). If the pond is regularly fed, equipped with an aerator, and has good irrigation and drainage facilities, the stocking density can be appropriately increased. With desalinated and trained fry, the survival rate can reach 80%–95%. After one year of farming, the fish can grow to 500–750 grams, with a yield of over 150 kg per mu. The market price is 16–20 yuan per kilogram, yielding a revenue of 2,500–4,000 yuan per mu—offering very impressive economic benefits. Hence, mullet are an indispensable high-quality species in aquaculture.

　　　　Mullet fry stocking is highly seasonal, mainly completed between Dahan (Great Cold) and Chunfen (Spring Equinox) each year. Missing this golden stocking period may result in the inability to find fry for stocking, thereby affecting the annual farming profitability. Therefore, farmers must plan ahead for fry stocking and place orders in advance to ensure their ponds benefit from mullet polyculture and enhance overall farming returns.